Stars trump Aces to boost play-off hopes

Premiership

King’s Lynn Stars 49 Belle Vue Aces 41

Niels-Kristian Iversen and skipper Robert Lambert again produced the Heat 15 goods with a 5-1 maximum result on Wednesday, repeating their success from Monday in Manchester.

In another tight affair the Aces required a 5-1 in the nominated race to grab a draw and a league point at the Adrian Flux Arena.

But Iversen – on a borrowed bike with King’s Lynn overall suffering many mechanical issues – gated well and Lambert overtook his fading fellow Great Britain rider Craig Cook at the end of the first lap. It meant the Tru Plant Stars managed their fifth straight home win.

King’s Lynn had six riders scoring seven or more points including home debutant Erik Riss, and the German recorded a solid eight points from four rides. He snatched second place on the line in the opening heat, just inches ahead of former Lynn rider Steve Worrall in an away 2-4 result.

Heat 14 specialist Thomas Jorgensen on the outside overtook Mark Riss at start of lap four for a vital win as it proved becuase it took some pressure off the final race.

Belle Vue were six points behind at the interval and replied with Fricke replacing former Lynn rider Steve Worrall as a tactical substitute in Heat 11.

Earlier, visiting reserve Damian Drozdz fell on the fourth bend in last place and was excluded, Michael Palm Toft winning the re-run as Lynn levelled after Heat 2.

The first maximum went to the reliable pair of Ty Proctor and Jorgensen in Heat 3 to put the Stars in control.

Belle Vue were six points adrift, 33-27, at the Heat 10 break and immediately replied with the Max Fricke replacing Worrall as a tactical substitute which bore fruit with the Aces’ first 5-1 maximum victory with Grand Prix star Cook.

Fricke lost his unbeaten run in the final heat.

The Tru Plant Stars had grabbed a last gasp 46-44 victory on Monday to give their play-off hopes a massive boost. A special souvenir programme commemorating Iversen's seventh straight Danish title was produced while Iversen posed for pictures and autographs after the meeting.

The first 200 children through the turnstiles gained goody bags.

King’s Lynn Tru Plant Stars: Robert Lambert 7+3, Erik Riss 8, Ty Proctor 7, Thomas Jorgensen 8+2, Niels-Kristian Iversen 11, Simon Lambert 1, Michael Palm Toft 7+2. Fastest time: Robert Lambert, Heat 10, 58.52 seconds.

Belle Vue: Craig Cook 8+1, Steve Worrall 2, Dan Bewley 8, Rohan Tungate 1+1, Max Fricke 16, Mark Riss 6, Damian Drozdz 0. Fastest time: Fricke, Heat 11, 58.72secs.